Roads - articles and discussion

[pandmaster]

Road congestion levels are at crisis point in Brisbane. We need to take urgent action. 

Brisbane's roads are relatively uncongested compared to Sydney and Melbourne.

It is ridiculous how a claim like Mander's that a new motorway is needed goes unchallenged in the article. What he suggests is insanity. I used to travel around that area for work and it was one of the more congested (still not that bad) parts of Brisbane. PT there is also rubbish. Maybe there is a link there?

[#Metro]

Road congestion is easy to fix. Slap a toll on it. If the failures of Clem 7, Airport Link etc are anything to go by, it is that tolls are extraordinarily effective at scaring away any and all motorists.

Even a $1 toll would scare enough people off to leave the place uncongested for everyone else.

[ozbob]

21 August 2015
   
Media Release
Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Toowoomba Second Range Crossing contracts signed

THE landmark $1.6 billion Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is one step closer today, with the Nexus consortium signing a contract to deliver the project.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Trusssaid the project will underpin Queensland's economic and industrial development, and provide social benefits for the region.

"Nexus was selected for the project because of their expertise, innovative design and ability to deliver a value-for-money project that will support the movement of freight to the Port of Brisbane," Mr Truss said.

"More than 1,800 full-time jobs will be supported during construction of the project, which is a boost for long-term employment prospects in the region. The new road will also save up to 40 minutes in travel time for heavy vehicles compared to travelling on the existing Range Crossing, while also avoiding 18 sets of traffic lights.

"This project continues the Australian Government's commitment to improving national prosperity, increasing productivity and delivering the infrastructure Australia needs."

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt said today's outcome was the result of an extensive and rigorous procurement process led by Queensland Treasury.

"This is a great day for the Darling Downs region. The project has now cleared the final stage of the procurement process, which formally commenced with the issuing of Expressions of Interest in June 2014, and is about building the region's future," Mr Pitt said.

"I'm delighted through this process we've been able to deliver an outcome that demonstrates innovation, value for taxpayers and is environmentally responsible."

Federal Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane said the Australian Government considers the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing to be one of the nation's most important infrastructure projects and has committed $1.285 billion toward the project.

"Today is a momentous occasion for the people of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, who recognise the importance of this project to both improve quality of life and enhance road safety.  It will also cement our region's significance as an economic hub by encouraging new business investment and jobs growth," Mr Macfarlane said.

"As the Surat Basin and Lockyer Valley are important for the agriculture and mining sectors, the Second Range Crossing also will improve efficiency for freight operators and free up local roads for residents."

Queensland Minister for Main Roads Mark Bailey said it was fitting that the contract for the vital project had been finalised during Road Safety Week.

"The project will deliver real benefits for Toowoomba by enhancing safety on the existing range crossing and across the CBD road network, and significantly reducing travel times," Mr Bailey said.

"This is a project that has been on the drawing board for far too long – it can't come soon enough for motorists and for workers who will benefit from new jobs.

"The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will bring $2.4 billion over 30 years of productivity gain for business and industry to Toowoomba."

Mr Bailey said the project would include a separated connection to Mort Street.

"This will particularly benefit freight operators who need to travel in and out of Toowoomba," he said.

"The final design will also see two lanes built each way from the Warrego Highway East Interchange to Warrego Highway West and grade separated interchanges at Warrego Highway West, Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road and the Gore Highway.

"A 30-metre deep cutting at the top of the range will also be built as an alternative to a tunnel proposal, enabling safer travel for all heavy vehicles, including ones carrying dangerous goods."

The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will be delivered as a Public Private Partnership, with the Queensland Government contributing up to $321 million towards the project.

Construction will commence this year, with the project reaching completion in late 2018.

For more information visit www.qld.gov.au/tsrc

[ozbob]

Reviewanew --> Ten reasons why reducing automobile dependency makes sense

[hU0N]

Reviewanew --> Ten reasons why reducing automobile dependency makes sense

9. Cars are the main cause of congestion. The main constraint to (our) convenience and independence is of course the extent that other cars get in our way, which is known as congestion.

That's rubbish.  If you define congestion as "the extent that cars get in my way", then of course the car is the main cause of congestion. 

In reality, the main cause of congestion is that too many people want or need to travel too far, too often.  If you removed all the cars from Brisbane and replaced them all with buses, imagine the gridlock at the Cultural Centre busway station.  Or if you replaced them all with trains, imagine the queues of trains lining up to cross the Merivale Bridge.

There is a school of thought, often referred to as new urbanism, that says you should first decide how you want people to live, then determine what to build based on whether it encourages or discourages people from living this way.  The problem with our cities is, therefore, that we have implicitly decided that people ought to live a long distance travelling, congested commuting type of lifestyle, and accordingly built a city that encourages this.

In this light, you can see that both congestion and cars themselves are simply part of the infrastructure that enables the congested, suburban commuting lifestyle that we have dictated that everyone must live.  If you want people to dismantle this infrastructure (and to be sure, short of getting everyone to give up their own cars and roads willingly), the only way is to change the lifestyle that you are dictating to the population.  In short, if you want to get rid of congestion, the trick is decided that people should not ever NEED to get in a car, or get on a bus, or catch a train; and indeed more often than not, nobody should really even WANT to do these things.

Of course it seems odd to suggest that society at large, and governments in particular should be in the business of telling people how to live.  But, in truth, that's actually how the world works already, and to suggest it doesn't is wrong.  From the beginning of time, governments have been in the business of telling people how to live and people have been in the business of building, buying or making the things they need to live the way they are told.  If the way we have told people to live has resulted in a crappy congested lifestyle, the simplest answer is to stop telling people to live that way, and start telling them to live differently.

[#Metro]

Reducing car congestion and increasing PT usage is easy. Just set up concrete barriers on roads leading to the CBD overnight.
Would be simple, fast and cheap to do.

Suddenly when you put it like that, it does not seem so nice...

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> How much Legacy Way shaves travel time on Milton Road

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Legacy Way tunnel eases Western Freeway traffic, Milton Rd still congested

[ozbob]

Twitter

Katherine Feeney ‏@katherinefeeney 10 minutes

Traffic volume up 3.2% but Mayor says TransApex scheme's benefitting some. Legacy Way cuts Milton Rd traffic by 16%



=============

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 4 minutes

. @katherinefeeney Where are the ' 2000 daily express buses ' ? > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7798.0 ... ping @Team_Quirk #qldpol more induced traffic ...

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Kingsford Smith Dr, Wynnum Rd given priority in Brisbane City Council push to reduce congestion

[newbris]

...the only way is to change the lifestyle that you are dictating to the population.  ...

There are a lot of people who are not a long commute away who add to congestion by driving a single occupancy car. Some of these would consider converting to other modes, PT, cycling if we did a better job of providing for these options. This would free up some of the road for some of the long distance commuters.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane traffic: Worst roads in city for commuter congestion

more roads, more traffic, more congestion .. doing the same thing over and over again with the same results ...

[Gazza]

Reducing car congestion and increasing PT usage is easy. Just set up concrete barriers on roads leading to the CBD overnight.
Would be simple, fast and cheap to do.

Suddenly when you put it like that, it does not seem so nice...

It wouldn't, because the resulting confusion and civil unrest from such action would worsen congestion.

[pandmaster]

Couriermail Quest --> Kingsford Smith Dr, Wynnum Rd given priority in Brisbane City Council push to reduce congestion

Just think of what that money could do for services on the Cleveland line and services and infrastructure on the Doomben line. What a waste!

[pandmaster]

Couriermail --> Legacy Way tunnel eases Western Freeway traffic, Milton Rd still congested

Was it worth the $$$ for these improvements? Perhaps now induced demand will set in. I will be interested to see what impact the raising of tolls has.

Couriermail --> Brisbane traffic: Worst roads in city for commuter congestion

It is hardly surprising only 800 cars have diverted from Coro Drive. I can not see why many people who use that road would take Legacy Way instead. It is taking them in another direction.

[newbris]

Couriermail --> Legacy Way tunnel eases Western Freeway traffic, Milton Rd still congested

Was it worth the $$$ for these improvements? Perhaps now induced demand will set in. I will be interested to see what impact the raising of tolls has.

Couriermail --> Brisbane traffic: Worst roads in city for commuter congestion

It is hardly surprising only 800 cars have diverted from Coro Drive. I can not see why many people who use that road would take Legacy Way instead. It is taking them in another direction.

A chunk would have been going in that direction though via Coro and ICB ?

[James]

A chunk would have been going in that direction though via Coro and ICB ?

Not really. Coronation Drive always tended to collect the traffic from Moggill Rd heading to the city and traffic from Indooroopilly inwards (and in particular from the University of Queensland and St Lucia). Milton Road tended to collect the traffic from the M5 and traffic heading into the ICB from outer Moggill Road.

Inbound this is less pronounced due to the similar access arrangements between Milton and Coro. Outbound, you can sit through several changes of lights trying to get out on to Coronation Drive from the ICB, versus Milton Road which generally only takes one. Hence, generally the traffic coming from the ICB used Milton Rd. The 800 veh/day who used Coro were likely using it because the Western Fwy was a mess during construction work for Legacy Way/widening works - taking Coro was faster.

The people going from Coro to the ICB are people like James - residing in St Lucia who have no use for Legacy Way.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Kingsford Smith Drive plan would be scrapped under Labor council

... "Let's look at the facts. Traffic on Kingsford Smith Drive is less than it was a decade ago.

"In a report handed down by the council three days ago, the key corridors report, Kingsford Smith drive was the fifth-fastest of the 18 key corridors."

Instead, a Harding administration would spend just $150 million upgrading three Kingsford Smith Drive intersections, with Racecourse, Harbour and Nudgee roads.

The $500 million in savings would be redirected to a $200 million rail overpass at Boundary Road, Coopers Plains, a $50 million fast tracking of the Wynnum Road upgrade and $250 million on local projects that would be announced during the council election campaign.

Mr Harding said he expected the state government to contribute to the $200 million Coopers Plains overpass, but was willing to go it alone if necessary ...

[pandmaster]

Brisbanetimes --> Kingsford Smith Drive plan would be scrapped under Labor council

[ozbob]

Interesting development .... game on!    

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Kingsford Smith Drive plan would be scrapped under Labor council

... "Let's look at the facts. Traffic on Kingsford Smith Drive is less than it was a decade ago.

"In a report handed down by the council three days ago, the key corridors report, Kingsford Smith drive was the fifth-fastest of the 18 key corridors."

Instead, a Harding administration would spend just $150 million upgrading three Kingsford Smith Drive intersections, with Racecourse, Harbour and Nudgee roads.

The $500 million in savings would be redirected to a $200 million rail overpass at Boundary Road, Coopers Plains, a $50 million fast tracking of the Wynnum Road upgrade and $250 million on local projects that would be announced during the council election campaign.

Mr Harding said he expected the state government to contribute to the $200 million Coopers Plains overpass, but was willing to go it alone if necessary ...

Rod Harding's Suburban Congestion Busting Fund --> http://t.co/tUP0QwRZyO  PDF External

[ozbob]

From the ' archives ' ...

=====================

Media release 6 April 2011

SEQ: Call to scrutinise Kingsford Smith Drive 'Car Rapid Transit'

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters calls on Infrastructure Australia to scrutinise Kingsford Smith Drive Car Rapid Transit. Other cost-effective solutions including public transport-only options should be considered.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back on Track notes that 'Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade is now back on the agenda' (1,2).

"All options presented for capacity expansion on Kingsford Smith Drive so far have focused solely on Car Rapid Transit – the fast movement of single occupant vehicles. The cost of the most expensive option is an eye watering $3.2 BILLION dollars, equivalent to three Gold Coast Light Rail projects, with money to spare!"

"The modal choice of Car Rapid Transit needs to be independently scrutinised by Infrastructure Australia against Bus Rapid Transit (BUZ in peak hour T2 lanes), Rail Rapid Transit (Doomben Line upgrade), more frequent ferries and de-congestion pricing, all of which are are likely to cost a lot less than $3.2 BILLION."

"There has already been a duplication of the Gateway Motorway, while a tunnel will connect to Brisbane Airport as part of the Airport Link Car Rapid Transit project. It seems that the real purpose of this Kingsford Smith Drive road upgrade project is to relieve congestion encouraged by people rat-running off the so-called 'Inner City (Congested) Bypass (ICB) to access the Gateway Motorway and avoid tolls. It would be prudent to wait to see the effects of the Airport Link tunnel before spending billions."

"RAIL Back on Track has written extensively on the simplicity of upgrading the Doomben railway line as providing increased transport capacity in this area (3,4,5). Public transport upgrades can proceed separately from, and independent to, any road upgrade for Kingsford Smith Drive. Public transport upgrades and road upgrades are logically separate projects and it is not necessary for improvements to public transport to come mandatorily pre-packaged with road upgrades. We would like to see decent 'public transport only' options. The Doomben line duplication was planned and initial works done in the 1950s. In light of increasing congestion, it's completion is surely due now, not in 20 years time if the community is lucky."

"RAIL Back on Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail. Incentives for public transport must be combined with disincentives for driving because any other combination is self-defeating. 'Car Rapid Transit' is a low capacity, high-pollution, expensive-to-construct, high-toll mode inappropriate for mass transit purposes. Looming peak oil crises are going to precipitate a transport crisis of major proportions. Now is the time to properly prepare."

"The unblocking of the Sunshine Coast rail line for example (which is at capacity) could do more for national freight objectives and passenger transport than more redundant expensive road projects."

"RAIL Back on Track also does not understand why, after boasting about making a $300 million dollar saving on Legacy Way, $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow Council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel) (6). Another 'non-core' promise or just badly managed obfuscation? Either way, it is certainly reflective of the appalling transport planning generally in south-east Queensland, and why the 'locals' cannot be trusted as they are obsessed with car rapid transit!"

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

References:

1.Kingsford Smith Drive back on agenda
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/kingsford-smith-drive-back-on-agenda-20110404-1ctha.html

2. Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/plans-projects/transport-projects/Kingsford-Smith-Drive-Upgrade/index.htm

3. SEQ: Car Rapid Transit money better spent on Real Rapid Transit
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5492.0

4. SEQ:  Doomben Line upgrade required
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5469.0

5. SEQ: "Car rapid transit" is NOT the only option for Kingsford Smith Drive
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5166.0

6. Express bus mooted for western suburbs
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/express-bus-mooted-for-western-suburbs-20100920-15jmr.html

[ozbob]

Twitter

Cameron Atfield ‏@CameronAtfield 10 minutes ago

. @Team_Quirk stands firm on Kingsford Smith Drive, while the @RACQOfficial backs @Rod4Bris's Labor plan. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/dont-sign-kingsford-smith-drive-contract-racq-20150828-gja1po.html ...

[#Metro]

Brisbane City Council appears to be infected with Campbell Newman Ear Infection Disease. They don't listen, they make up nonsense and blindly press on, and are hugely arrogant.

They have spent years blocking bus reform. The tunnels were going ahead no matter what. It's appalling!

There is AirportLink now. Why is this needed?

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

28th August 2015

Kingsford Smith Drive - Just upgrade the bus!

Greetings

RAIL Back on Track is skeptical of the Kingsford Smith Drive project advanced by Brisbane
City Council (BCC). Sadly, BCC is increasingly displaying signs of 'Campbell Newman Syndrome'.

The RACQ is actually talking sense. Why does Brisbane City Council and Cr. Adrian Schrinner
want to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on Kingsford Smith Drive? Isn't the new AirportLink
and Clem 7 tunnel not enough? Why can vehicles not use that?

Both of these tunnels, which we were constantly told were 'absolutely vital' over and over
again, with the benefits beyond questioning, are now desperately in need more car traffic. And they
have both gone into financial administration.

Why not just upgrade the 300 Toombul bus?

It already achieves high value for money and very high capacity utilisation (i.e. good patronage).
The areas around Ascot, Hamilton and  Clayfield have excellent density.  Stop spacing should be reviewed.
High-speed stop spacing encourages patronage growth and speeds up passenger journeys. An upgraded
service could pull in a lot more passengers and lots of fare revenue, so we think the net costs would be rather small.

For too long, fundamental changes to the Brisbane bus network have been stonewalled by
Brisbane City Council and Lord Mayor Graham Quirk. It's all part of the 'I'm not listening'
culture that has developed at City Hall. That needs to change.

It is absolutely clear that bus network reform must proceed as a matter of emergency.
RAIL Back on Track has already prepared a New Bus Network Proposal for Brisbane to address
this ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Reference:

Toombul 300 Bus
http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/buses/T/300

[James]

From the article:

"Labor's commitment of $200 million to fund a rail overpass at Coopers Plains is letting their state colleagues off the hook as it is a state government responsibility to fund rail overpasses," he said.

Oh FFS, can we stop the blame shifting! It is like the Local/State/Federal governments are a bunch of primary school kids trying to do an assignment. I'm not doing that part because that's your responsibility! No it's your responsibility!

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Plans for North-South Urban Arterial through North Lakes could solve congestion issues on Bruce Highway

[red dragin]

Couriermail Quest --> Plans for North-South Urban Arterial through North Lakes could solve congestion issues on Bruce Highway

The section mentioned late in the article that is due to start construction soon, links the Costco/Bunnings area through to Anzac Ave, between Mango Hill & Mango Hill East Station's.

Looks like Stocklands waited as long as they could to building it. The piles for the Copeland St & golf course overbridge have been in the ground for a long time.

[pandmaster]

Couriermail Quest --> Plans for North-South Urban Arterial through North Lakes could solve congestion issues on Bruce Highway

I am speechless. A new motorway from Caboolture to the Gateway! What a ridiculous concept.

[#Metro]

Until rail and bus networks can offer basic 15 minute frequency to most of the city, all day and weekend, there is little impetus to spend on PT.

The new Kippa-Ring Rail line will likely have 30 min trains during the day, and low frequency bus connections. In that time, you might already be in the City with your car.

[ozbob]

Media Release
Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Design progressing on Gateway Upgrade North project

Work on designing the $1.162 billion Gateway Upgrade North project between Nudgee and Bracken Ridge has progressed to its final stage.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said since the release of the preferred plan in 2013, an interactive tender process had produced innovative solutions to reduce congestion and improve safety on one of the state's busiest motorways.

"The project will support more than 1,000 direct jobs during its lifespan, continuing the Coalition Government's commitment to deliver national prosperity and a stronger national transport network," Mr Truss said.

Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey, said motorists and the wider community would benefit from the increased capacity and safety upgrade for the thousands of motorists who used the highway every day.

"Major construction is expected to start early next year, and will involve widening an 11.3-kilometre section from four to six lanes between Nudgee and Bracken Ridge, upgrading the Nudgee Road interchange and widening the Deagon Deviation to two lanes in both directions," Mr Bailey said.

"The Nudgee interchange upgrade will involve lengthening the on and off-ramps significantly to provide safer merging and exiting opportunities for motorists.

Member for Sandgate Stirling Hinchliffe said the upgrade was a vital piece of infrastructure for the tens of thousands of motorists who commuted on the road every day.

"This expansion will reduce the bottlenecks that happen during peak times and improve the local road network. I know motorists will enjoy the benefits of these upgrades," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"The Palaszczuk Government is getting on with the job of building important infrastructure to handle our increasing demands."

Member for Nudgee Leanne Linard said the project was a milestone event that would have many positive outcomes for South East Queensland. 

"Drivers will enjoy quicker journeys to and from their destination, pedestrians and cyclists will also benefit from a new shared path along the upgrade," Mrs Linard said.

The Australian Government has committed up to $929.6 million and the Queensland Government $232.4 million to the Gateway Upgrade North project.

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and Transurban Queensland will jointly manage the delivery of the project. Lend Lease Engineering will design and construct the project.

To view the features of the design online, visit the project webpage at www.gatewayupgradenorth.com.au and click on the September 2015 newsletter.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Penny Dahl ‏@Pennycopter 58s

Packed in like lemmings on the M1 northbound through Loganholme #bnetraffic

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> The State Government to fund the $4 million business case needed ahead of crucial 3km M1 upgrade

[ozbob]

For interest ...

================

Twitter

Simon Cullen ‏@Simon_Cullen 4m

Check out this traffic jam near Beijing! Wow....#China #Traffic

[ozbob]

This is extremely well done, it's just geometry people: pic.twitter.com/SJMAuYXUEJ

— gabe klein (@gabe_klein) August 15, 2015

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> $1.5b Legacy Way tunnel saves cross-Brisbane commuters up to 12 minutes

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Legacy Way operator Transurban to bid for Airport Link

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Higher tolls will reduce Legacy Way use: Quirk

[ozbob]

Twitter

Penny Dahl ‏@Pennycopter 9m

Pacific Mwy jam packed inbound through the Gabba after an earlier crash on the Captain Cook Bridge #bnetraffic

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Legacy Way workers slowed down to protect jobs: Graham Quirk